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Boston Red Sox Rumors: Team may be without true closer

By Sam Minton

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Alex Cora #20 of the Boston Red Sox checks his tablet prior to Game Five of the 2018 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Alex Cora #20 of the Boston Red Sox checks his tablet prior to Game Five of the 2018 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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With it looking like Craig Kimbrel won’t be returning to the team, the Boston Red Sox may decide to go without a true closer.

This has been a slow offseason for Major League Baseball. Major free agents have yet to sign a deal and former Boston Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel has become a casualty to the slow-moving market.

Kimbrel and his agent Scott Boras were shooting for the moon. They wanted to make Kimbrel the highest paid closer in MLB history. That definitely won’t be happening.

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Red Sox owner Tom Werner has even admitted recently that it is unlikely that Kimbrel returns to Boston.  So who will replace him?

Ryan Brasier and Matt Barnes seemed to be the front runners for the job. Both of these guys had quality seasons in 2018, but they don’t have much experience pitching in the 9th inning.

Now things may have changed. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said the Sox would use a closer by committee approach.

This would be interesting. We have seen teams like the Astros use a similar system, but they still have a defined closer. If the Red Sox truly use this kind of approach I don’t know how successful they will be.

The Red Sox either need to go out and get a closer or stick with Brasier and Barnes. These guys proved last season that they have the ability to possibly take over the starting job. Why not give them a chance?

Boston is bringing back basically the same team that won them the World Series. The only thing that can stop them is their bullpen. Your starters won’t be pitching 7 or 8 innings each game. You need guys to bridge the gap.

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So it will be interesting to see what the Boston Red Sox do when the regular season arrives.

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